EPA Admits Cap-and-Trade Won’t Work

With the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill passing the House on June 26th, we turn our attention to the Senate side of the debate. And it’s already starting:

Cabinet officials pressed President Barack Obama’s case for climate-change and clean-energy legislation at a Senate hearing on Tuesday as lawmakers clashed over whether a ‘cap-and-trade’ system for cutting greenhouse gases would help the U.S. economy or hurt it.

‘Denial of the climate-change problem will not change our destiny; a comprehensive energy and climate bill that caps and then reduces carbon emissions will,’ said Energy Secretary Steven Chu in remarks before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Mr. Chu and the secretaries of agriculture and interior joined the chief of the Environmental Protection Agency in making Mr. Obama’s case to generally supportive Democrats and skeptical Republicans.

Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, the panel’s top Republican, said the cap-and-trade system would amount to the largest tax increase in American history, a statement echoed by many Republicans but shot down by Democrats including Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, who chairs the committee.

‘There are no new taxes,’ Ms. Boxer said Tuesday morning.”

No new taxes? What do you call the estimated $5.7 trillion from 2012-2035 (The Brookings Institute estimates $9 trillion from 2012-2050) in revenue the government expects to collect from this bill? That’s right: they call it climate revenue.

Moreover, it should be a red flag when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) admits cap-and-trade won’t work. At yesterday’s hearing before the Senate Environment Public Works Committee,

EPA Administrator Jackson confirmed an EPA analysis showing that unilateral U.S. action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would have no effect on climate. Moreover, when presented with an EPA chart depicting that outcome, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said he disagreed with EPA’s analysis.

“I believe the central parts of the [EPA] chart are that U.S. action alone will not impact world CO2 levels,” Administrator Jackson said.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) presented the chart to both Jackson and Secretary Chu, which shows that meaningful emissions reductions cannot occur without aggressive action by China, India, and other developing countries. “I am encouraged that Administrator Jackson agrees that unilateral action by the U.S. will be all cost for no climate gain,” Sen. Inhofe said. “With China and India recently issuing statements of defiant opposition to mandatory emissions controls, acting alone through the job-killing Waxman-Markey bill would impose severe economic burdens on American consumers, businesses, and families, all without any impact on climate.”

Getting China and India on board with a carbon reduction plan is highly unlikely. Even then, a multilateral approach does not guarantee a successful system or the ultimate goal of global temperature reduction. Take a look at Europe:

Cap-and-trade regimes have advantages, notably the ability to set a limit on emissions and to integrate with other countries. But they are complex and vulnerable to lobbying and special pleading, and they do not guarantee success.

The experience of the European Union is Exhibit A. Emissions targets were set too high. Too many pollution allowances were given away to industry. The value of a carbon credit plummeted. Companies made windfall profits by charging customers more for energy while selling allowances they didn’t need. And the Europeans have not had much success reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Disputes on the next round of reductions led to the creation of a two-tiered system to appease Eastern European countries fearful of the cost to their industries.”

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One has to wonder about the margin of error for calculating the "Emissions effects" and "Emissions trajectories" as this is entirely speculative.

The word "temperature" does not appear even once, likely because they can't chart a "temperature trajectory" due to the fact that nobody has demonstrated that a correlation exists between CO2 and atmospheric temperature.

Climates do nothing BUT change. Chaos Theory and quantum uncertainty make systems as complex as the atmosphere almost utterly unpredictable (see how well weather "forecasters" do even 7 days ahead of time) at our current level of comprehension.

Science is not hysterical, but sober and serious.

Panicking into an economic calamity in order to "solve" a problem that is not clearly understood is 'faith', (or even a cult movement) not science.

Caution and far more study are required before we accidentally cause an Ice Age by witlessly trying to "correct" a poorly-grasped mystery.

You said, “Denial of the climate-change problem will not change our destiny;…". Let me ask you this: What "destiny" do you think we are to have if we don't get our economy back to normal growth rates soon? Do you think climate change will matter at all to millions of starving and homeless beggars? Did you ever think n o t to use such loaded words as "destiny"? Are you aware how quickly Cap-and-Trade will negatively impact industry, how long it will take "green" industry to take up the economic slack, if ever, and how much longer still it will take for any "positive" climate changes thereafter to become measurable? Or, do you actually, literally, believe (but hold your tongue about) that things are so bad, that we're doomed one way or the other? If that were true, then wouldn't it be more reasonable just to party away our final hours? Mr. Chu, do you really wish to call what you've been doing, "thinking"?

"One" last question, Mr. Chu: Would you call what you and your department have been doing, practicing science, and if so, then why did you deny in senate committee that the proposed bill will by itself have no impact on global climate change due to GHG, although the EPA itself makes just this claim? Do you act this way to please your boss? If so, aren't you forgetting that it is not BO who pays you, but we, the U.S. taxpayers, and that we expect competent, thoroughly prepared, and forthright answers when our elected representatives ask you a proper question? That if you acted this way in any private industry setting you would be terminated by the end of the day?

What is the earth's proper temperature? In order to say that the earth is warmer than it should be, they first have to say what the proper temperature is. Naturally, not even the greenies can answer that with a straight face.

But just for argument's sake, How many plants and animals would object to a slightly warmer planet? I believe the diversity of life in the equatorial rain forest, versus the arctic, answers that question.

Cap and Trade will leave us poor, cold and in the dark. In their wildest imaginings our enemies never imagined we would take such action voluntarily. They must be grinning ear to ear as they sharpen their knives.

This is, and never has been, about climate. This is about involuntarily disbursing our wealth to slow down our embarassingly superior(comapared to socialistic) economic machine;forcing equal outcomes, making select individuals richer(Gore, Soros,GE, friends of Obama etc.)and most of all, forcing an oppresive government upon us all, to the detriment of the freedom we once fought to keep.

Climate change is a political hoax spawned in the bowels of the manipulative UN and it attempts to use crisis and panic and "the end of the world," type threats, if we don't lay down and comply quickly. It is merely the internation model of the old traveling wagons that sold funny looking liquid as a elixir for "all that ails you" to the rubes. Well, considering our free choices at the voting booths there are plenty of rubes around to buy this faux pipe dream of the left – but not this one. I've had more real understanding of the natural world as a pre-teen than all these easily cooerced so-called scientists, and it don't work like that.

Has this country's governmental body lost all of their senses…….How dare they impose such a restrictive "tax" in the name of global warming, perpetuating this hoax to the point of the downfall of American life as we have known it…..It seems to me that we went through this several years ago with a BTU tax that you tried to pass, and that one was shot down. Are they in congress giving any consideration to the many lives it will destroy with this. We will lose more of our industry to overseas where they will not impose this on their citizens. (China and India for example). I think it time that our legislative body remembers who they represent and considers the impact such a bill will have on us. How can you even consider this knowing that it will only lower the temperature by 0.1 celcius, over a period of many years. I live in Michigan and let me tell you, that from where we stand it isn't warmer, it is getting colder……Can you explain this.

You need to stop this ridiculous nonsense and start working on issues that are destroying our country now. Unemployment, Our economy, loss of our dollar value, which declines each time you run the printer. Loss of Our business's, that can't handle the restrictions and regulations and high taxes imposed on them..How do you propose we as Americans earn a living so that we may pay "your" salaries and keep you in the style you have all become accustomed to. Its time you paid attention to the "People", who work hard each day, are "honest", pay their taxes and are "law" abiding citizens, rather than the special interests you all seem to be so entangled with. It is time that we americans are heard and not just as a means to support all of the whims of a few……This is a great country and we as citizens of a free society intend to keep it that way.

You shouldn't get too complacent about your positions in our government body as 2010 is approaching and we will show our power at the ballot box.

I implore you to do the right thing for America and stop destroying any chance we have of pulling out of this devastation…….

Has everyone gone mad? Humans (let alone Americans) cannot control the weather!! Why do we continue to give lip service to this most ridiculous and insane premise?

The arbitrary assertions of global warming alarmists are simply that and as such are invalidated from the outset. That our society considers such specious claims grounds for reasoned debates is a statement of just how effective attacks on the intellect and the mind have been since the days of Immanuel Kant.

By Nick Loris
With the Waxman-Markey cap and trade bill passing the House on June 26th, we turn our attention to the Senate side of the debate. And it’s already starting:
Cabinet officials pressed President Barack Obama’s case for climate-change an…

Thursday morning on MSLSD interviewed by the editor of Newsweek, Waxman indicated that China and India wil want to join us on Cap & Tax when they find that they can sell us carbon credits. Does anyone listen to this idiot?

Anyone who seriously believes that man is changing the climate should first be demanding that manufacturing return to the United States. Our power plants and pollution controls are probably more efficient than Chinas. Not shipping products across the ocean from China would also reduce pollution. But they take a blind eye to this idea because it would hurt the global economy and hurt developing countries.

I know this article is about cap and trade. But I have a question about the new electric cars that everyone will be driving. If we have to plug them in every night to charge the batteries, where is this extra electricity going to come from?

This "bondogle" has nothing to do with climate! Its started as a tree-hugging excerise and then "viola" politicians figured out how to leverage into a power grab…too many pinko-commies had their political wagon tied to this shooting star! They will not go quietly into the good night…without a fight of biblical proportions….facts will not deter them!

What should be noted is the disagreement of the magnitude of manmade emissions on climate amongst those scientists. Why are these voices silenced? Economist Paul Krugman likens global warming denying to treason. It's like a religion with these fanatics.

Who can determine how many trillions of dollars would be needed to lower earth's annual temperature by 1 degree fahrenheit?

I am relieved that people understand the insanity of our "leftist" government. This has to stop NOW! I will start a grass roots movement to go door to door to get the message out on our idiot president. I will never have any respect for this idiot! He is sick in the head!

Now we know why the commie White House and the House suppressed publication of the EPA report prior to the vote.

Is Boxer brain dead? What tax increase she says.

In addition, can you imagine, that the lying Pelosi pushes thru a bill that was passed (narrowly) after votes were bought in the middle of the night, with a provision that will add 300 pages to it that no one has ever even seen???????????

If this doesn't catch the attention of taxpayers then we are all doomed to the morons graduating from the public school system bought and paid for by the teacher's union.

This bullcrap was the final straw for me, as "there shall be no taxation without due diligent representation". The system is totally corrupt because of no term limits!!!!!!

Anyone with a 5th grade education knows that a single valcano the size of mount Saint Helen released more C02 into the atmosphere than we have since the invention of the internal cumbustion engine. What a joke and good luck sheepal

The real brilliance of the climate alarmists is to clump together the economy (tax increase) with the environment (demon CO2 destroying the Earth) and energy policy (stop burning fossil fuels).

So to disagree with AGW, means that you don't care about the environment, or imported oil, or restoring the economy.

I am deeply concerned about all three. But, I can't for the life of me figure out how a harmless gas, exhaled by BILLIONS of living animals, and comprising less than 4 percent of the atmosphere, can change temperature.

[…] Cap’n’Trade is as awful but of course as to other issues, yet still affected by these same delusional persons in Congress and the White House. An example is Rep. Henry Waxman, who co-wrote this monster called “Cap’n’Trade” or the Waxman-… Bill, an excessively spoiled, self-indulgent man representing Beverly Hills, CA, a man saturated in a self-gratifying and execptionally resentful of others environment, from a land where everyone else pays and he owes nothing: arrogant, cruel, judgemental and possessive, certainly not someone who is indicative of one who would lead our nation to a heroic future, but a man who is bent on fouling and destructing any who he suspects may be rocking his wealthy-enclave boat, a person spoiled to such an extent that he despoils others. Waxman is certainly not an individual who has vision or scope and certainly fails at representing the points of view of the “ordinary” American, which “ordinary” Americans I imagine he finds quite annoying if not repugnant. Like I wrote already: an arrogant man. […]

We need to somehow depend on ourselves first for energy resources before we start changing the way we live and taxing everyone to do it. I agree the climate has ALWAYS changed with or without mankind. First, there is just too much evidence to dispute man-induced global warming and second there is too much evidence the current bill will not have much effect on our current so-called crisis. Our current government is a result of bonehead Bush republicans that ticked off everyone to vote for a far-leftist administration. This probably will change in 2010. I WISH THERE WERE TERM LIMITS!! There is no accountability if the same politicos keep getting re-elected by people relying on popular advertising and sound-bites. THE BEST REPRESENTATIVES DO NOT GET ELECTED PEOPLE!! JUST THE MOST POPULAR WITH GOOD QUASI SEO SKILLS AND LOTS OF MONEY!! WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS SYSTEM; THE B.O. CHANGE IS THE SAME OLE' LEFTIST B.S.

Years ago las vegas had a system of Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs), where businesses had to purchase ERCs from either the County or private businesses who had them to sell. Each ERC was good for a number of tons of emissions.

What was interesting was where the ERCs start, or are issued from. Usually, a transportation or paving company, who then sold them.

In my opinion the whole problem with Cap and Trade is that it is a money making scam for the government or any designated entity to gain a windfall of cash from ALL businesses. Just like traded securities emissions credits will be bought and sold, leveraged, and hoarded to what the market will bear. Although the money is supposedly going to research and investment in renewable energy, I doubt if our elected officials would wisely use it, or would grab it for their political purposes.

When green energy is cost efficient the market will take care of emissions and sustainable energy on its own.

Logic would say that if the problem is CO2 – carbon dioxide gas – the solution is very easy. PLANT TREES! We know with scientific certainty trees like CO2 – they utilize it in their metabolic processes. It is a cost effective way to address a precieved problem and if CO2 isn't causing any problems – well, gosh – we have just beautified the planet!! Sounds like a WIN-WIN to me!

Anyone whomever has taken an college-level economics class should intuitively know that a Cap & Trade Enactment will not work. What I would like to know is, if this judge is appointed to the Supreme Court, where does she stand on the issue?

Thank god for the EPA. They are our saviours. Gore and all of his associates has been trying to create a income source based on global warming. Global warming is not real. If you belive it, you have not done your homework. I have four letter words for those that insist on it being real. I am really not that smart, but smart enough to see his scam.

[…] EPA Admits Cap-and-Trade Won’t Work EPA Administrator Jackson confirmed an EPA analysis showing that unilateral U.S. action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would have no effect on climate. Moreover, when presented with an EPA chart depicting that outcome, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said he disagreed with EPA’s analysis. “I believe the central parts of the [EPA] chart are that U.S. action alone will not impact world CO2 levels,” Administrator Jackson said. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) presented the chart to both Jackson and Secretary Chu, which shows that meaningful emissions reductions cannot occur without aggressive action by China, India, and other developing countries. “I am encouraged that Administrator Jackson agrees that unilateral action by the U.S. will be all cost for no climate gain,” Sen. Inhofe said. “With China and India recently issuing statements of defiant opposition to mandatory emissions controls, acting alone through the job-killing Waxman-Markey bill would impose severe economic burdens on American consumers, businesses, and families, all without any impact on climate.” more….. […]

[…] cut green house gases, that may be a topic for discussion. Interstingly enough the EPA says no. EPA Admits Cap-and-Trade Won’t Work ? The Foundry So we get this job killing machine that produces no real results. Sounds like a winner to […]

[…] cut green house gases, that may be a topic for discussion. Interstingly enough the EPA says no. EPA Admits Cap-and-Trade Won’t Work ? The Foundry So we get this job killing machine that produces no real results. Sounds like a winner to me! […]

EPA really told the truth about something, that's amazing! Seeing as they have used junk-science on about everything else that has been banned, DDT,freon, second-hand smoke, just to name a few. I believe the EPA should be abolished. I wonder what their angle really is on cap & trade. The report by an EPA employee that was against the EPA regulating Co2 and global warming was repressed by the EPA, go figure.

[…] 57% of us don’t believe is working, a carbon cap-and-trade (actually, a tax) program that doesn’t even hold a glimmer of hope as far as reducing by even a hundredth of a percent the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and a […]

When the EPA Administrator clearly points out that this strategy will not work, it is time to definitely question why our elected officials are taking this approach when it is going to cost taxpayers trillions over the next decade and it in fact, won't reduce climate change. Everyone should be reaching out to their Senators to let them know how much we oppose this atrocity. http://dontcapandtradeourjobs.net/?soc=tmtwt

[…] it strange that things like the Cap & Trade scheme being drawn up by Democrats won’t actually reduce c02 levels? But it will certainly tax energy companies… So what we are faced with is believing that […]

[…] compete with one another to see who can come up with the most superficial way of analyzing policy issues. Depth is irrelevant to the faithful. Their minds are fixed upon a utopia that can never arrive. […]

"a visit to the U.S. Department of Energy's Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) website (http://cdiac.ornl.gov/) helps anyone armed with a handheld calculator and a high school chemistry text put the volcanic CO2 tally into perspective. Because while 200 million tonnes of CO2 is large, the global fossil fuel CO2 emissions for 2003 tipped the scales at 26.8 billion tonnes. Thus, not only does volcanic CO2 not dwarf that of human activity, it actually comprises less than 1 percent of that value."

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